Sole-fitting machine



M. E. JOHNSON som FITTING MAQHINE FiledOct. 18. 1919 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 l I I l l l I l l .1

j iuly 15 1,924.

v 1,501,052 M. E. JOHNSON som: FITTING MACHINE Filed oct. lf3. 1919 :s sheets-shan 2 44 A L-. I

M'. E. r.KDHNS'QN som.` FITTING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 18. 1919 Patented July 15, 1924.

UNETED STATES 1,501,052 PATENT-OFFICE.

MERT'O'N E. JOHNSON, OF BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNO'R TO UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF PATERSON, N EW ERSEY, A CORPORATION 0F JERSEY.

SOLE-FITTING MACHINE.

Application filed October 18, 1919.

To all whom t may concern Be. it known that I, MERTON E; JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Beverly, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have' invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sole-Fitting Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others Vskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to sole fitting machines and more particularly to such machines for preparing soles having pointed toes for the succeeding operations vof lip turning and nseaming. A machine of this type is disclosed in Letters Patent of the United States to John B. Hadaway, No. 1,087,578, dated February 17, 1914.

The primary object of the present invention is to improve the machine of the Hadaway patent to provide a proper fitting for both turn soles and welt insoles and espeially welt insoles of the Economy type. i Another object is to improve the prior machine in such manner as to enable it -to be used for slitting the channel flap at points other than the toe, for example at the inside ball where the curve of the channel is most abrupt.

Accordingly one feature of the present invention comprises improved knives for making the incisions in the sole, as well as the mounting of these' knives, enabling the machine to make the kind of incision required for the new sole which isproduced. Another feature of the invention comprises an improved mounting of the gage members for positioning the sole relative to the knives permitting their withdrawal from above the work support. This provides an unobstructed surface in front of the knives and permits manipulation of the sole to present any part of its margin for `the incising action thereof.

To the accomplishment 0f these objects and such others as may hereinafter appear, as will readily be understood by those skilled in the art, the invention comprises the features and combinations of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims. f

Y The invention will be best understood from a description of the preferredembodiment thereof, illustrated in thefaccompany- Serial No. 331,580.

ing drawings, in which FigureV 1 is a SideV elevation of the improved machine, the

working head being shown in section; Fig. 2 is adetail in front elevation, of the work-v ing head and work support,.the` formerV being shown lowered with the knives in the sole; Fig. 3 is a sideelevation, in section, of the working head and the work support;

Figs. 4 and 5 are plan views ofthe work In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings the general construction of the machine head is the same as is illustrated in said Hadaway Patent No. 1,087,578. altered may brieflybe referred to (see Fig. 1) as the head casting 2 which receives the driving shaft 4 driven by a belt over the pulley 6; the reciprocatory head 8 actuated by the crank pin 10 on the forward end of the shaft 4; the work table 12 carrying the toe gage 14 and yieldingly supported upon the spring 16; and the one revolution starting and stopping mechanism generally indicated by 18 controlled by a treadle attached to the treadle rod 20. A

The present machine is designed to produce a different type of sole than is produced by the .old machine and to -this end Vchanges'and improvements have beenmade in the form and mounting of the knives carried by the reciprocatory head 8. Referring more particularly to Figs. 2 and 3, the head 8 is provided Ywith a central slot 22 which receives Va presser foot 24 of the same form as Vthe presser foot in .said Hadaway patent..Y The -presser foot 24is adjustably held in place by a headed screw 26 passed transversely through a vertical slot 28 in the foot and also through a collar 30, supported in a bore in the head 8, which acts to clamp the presser foot against one side of the slot 22 when the screw 26 is tightened. On either side ofthe presser foot 24 are vthe knife blocks which carry the` knives, n32 and 34.

The parts which have not been ,knife `block 38.

The knife 32 is shaped to produce a V-shaped incision 90 at the tip ofthe toe of a sole placed upon the work table, and is provided with a cylindrical shank received in a Vvertical bore36 in the lower face of the The knife 32 is held in the block by a set screw 40 and the knife block is held to the head 8 by a headed screw 42. The connection between the head 8 and the knife block 38 is by means of a horizontal tongue on the head litt-ing into a complenientary groove on the block as shown in Fig. 3', which prevents vertical displacementbetween these two parts and permits transverse adjustment. The knife blade 34 which is shaped to produce a lineal incision 92 in the sole at the rear of the V-shaped incision 90, unlike theV knife 32, is separable from its shank. This blade is adjustably secured within the angle of an angle piece 44 at the lower end of the cylindricalY shank 46. The adjustment is secured by loosening a set yscrew 48V whichA is threaded into the angle piece 44 through a horizontal slot 50 in the blade 34. The shank 46 is held by a set screw 47 in a vbore 52 in a knife block 54 mounted on the side of the head 8 opposite the knife block 38 and in like manner. Like the block 38 the headed screw 56 which secures the block to the head is passed through ahorizontal slot 58 (Fig. 2) thus permitting a transverse adjustment of the knife blade 34 on the tongue and groove connection.

It will be noted that the manner in which the shank 46 of the knife 34 is supported in its knife block 54 permits an angular adliustment of the knife 34 withrespect to the knife 32. So that the incision made by the knife 34 will extend across the median line of the sole as is shown in 4 and as will be explained later.

The position of the sole relative to the knives 82 and B4 is gaged by the toe gage 14 and two forepart gages 60 and 61 which overlie the upper face of the table 12. These forepart gages iave the form of bars, the outer ends of which extend beyond the edge of the table and are connected respectively to theouter 'ends of the two gage arms 62 and-`63, the .inner ends of which are loose "upon vertical pivot pins 64 and 65 threaded linto the lower face of the table'12. The connection between' the rgages and gage arms is such'that there is no relative movement between these parts as is 'clearly indicated'inFigs. 4 and 5. The gage arms 62 and 6.3 are prvided at theirinner ends with intermeshing toothed segments 66 and 67, so that 'the gages 60 and 61 move together and 4equ'arlly.' vQoiledabout both pivot pins 64 and is-a continuous wire spring 68, shown dotted lines in Figs. 4 and 5, the ends of -which engage the 'forward sides of pins 70 65 and 71 on the upper sides of the gage arms 62 and 63. This spring continually tends to urge the forepart gages toward each other. An adjustable stop screw 72`threaded through a lug on one edge of the table 12 limits the inward movement. of the forepart gages by engagement of the gage arm 71 therewith. This gage arm is also provided with a handle 74 by which the gages may be moved apart against the force of the spring 68. Beneath the work table 12 are secured two leaf springs` T6 and 77 (dotted lines Figs. 4 and 5 and full lines Figs. 6 and 7) by screws T8 and 79 at their rear ends, their forward ends being forked and embracing the pivot pins 64 and 65. These leaf springs bear downwardly upon the coils of the wire spring 68 and thus continuaily tend to press the two gage arms, and consequently the forepart gages, downward. The effect of this construction is that as soon as the gages 60 and 61 have been withdrawn beyond the edge of the table bv pulling upon the handle 74, the leaf springs immediately and automatically press the gages downward as far as is permitted by the heads of the pivot pins 64 and 65, that is, to a position to or below the level of the upper face of the table 12. The wire spring 68 maintains the gages in this inoperative position by forcing them against the edges of the table 12.

Depending from the table l2 is a gage repositioning member which comprises a handle 80 and a tail plaite 82, the latter' eX- tending toward the pivot pins 64 and 65 and recessed at its edge to embrace both of these pins below the gage arms 62 and'63 (see dotted lines, Figs. 4 and 5). Thehandle 8O of this member is provided with a central boss which is positioned between bosses 84 on the lower face of the table. A pintle 86 held in the handle 80 by a set screw 88 extends through all the bosses thus hinging the gage repositioning member on the table. By knocking the handle 8O inward, the tail plate 82 is rocked upward and the gage arms 62 and 63 are thus lifted against the force of the leaf springs 7 6 and 77 and immediately the gages 60 and 61 arrive above the upper face of the table 12, the coiled wire spring 68 moves them across" the table into operative position.

The reason for the novel gage mounting just described, is to provide, at times, a work table the surface of which is entirely free of obstruction, thus permitting a free -manipulation of the sole over the work table a reciprocation of the head 8. 1t is found lc l'esiralle, however, to make an. additional cut in the margin of the sole through the stock which .forms the channel flap at the inside ball where the `curvature is greatest, The removal of the forepart gages 60 and 61 from above the work table permits the sole to be positioned, as shown in Fig. 2, with the edge of the inside ball against the toe gage 14. Y proximately perpendicular to the gage 14 with the knife 34, it is necessary to loosen the set screw 47 and turn .the shank 46 angularly unt-il the knife stands normal to the gage 14, and t-henloosen the screw 56v and adjust the knife block 54 laterally until the knife stands opposite the gage 14.r Furthermore the set screw 4() is loosened at this time and. the V-shaped knife 32 `is pushed upw-ard within the bore 36 a suficient dis tance to render it inoperative.. Thereafter, when the head S is reciprocated, a single incision such asis shown in Fig. 5, will b made in the sole.

-V VIn the preferable mode of operation a gages 60 and 61 will-'be moved from their operating position and` while they are .held from returning vto their operating position by thelaction of the leaf springs the soles .will be passed a second time throughthe machine to receive an incision from the knife 34 at the inside ball, as 'shown in Fig. 5. These two opera-tionsv preferably, although not necessarily,Y are performed upon thef sole before it iis channeled, although 'in Fig. 5 a channeled soley is-i-llustrated to show thernotch 91 and tongue 98, between the slits 95 and 97, in theV completely fitted blank.

The sole produced by the machine above described andthe methodof making it are not claimed herein since they for-1n the subjectmatter of a divisional application, now Patent No. 1,393,787," Oct. 18, 1921.

It will be observed that vthe various adjustments provided for the knife blade 34 permit soles of all kinds to be properly incised. The variations in` toe style are accommodated by an angular adjustment of the knife shank 46, while the variations in width are accommodated by a combination of said angular adjustment and a horizontal adjustment of the blade 34 on angle piece 44. Variations in the width of the between substance mayY also be taken care of by these adjustments, it being understood that whatever Athe characteristics of the sole operated upon may be, the blade 34 will preferably be so located as to produce a transverse slit on the channelflap which will be complemental to the slit which will be formed by the channel knife as set forth more fully in said Patent No. 1,393,787.

In order to make a cut ap-,

the table,V two removable toe, andthe other of said knives being constructed andL arranged to make a lineal incision diagonally across the median. line of the sole at the rear of said V-shaped incision,

`and gaging means to position the sole with relation to said knives.

2. A sole fitting machine having, in combination, a work table. a knife having a blade tok make a lineal incision in the sole, gaging means to .position the sole to receive said incision within its margin at the toe., and meansL for supporting'said knife to incise the soleV diagonally across its median line, v

8. A sole fitting machine having, in combination, a work table, a knife having a blade to make lineal incision in the margin of the sole, a gage against which the edge of thefsoleis pressed,'and means constructed and arranged to permit adjustment of said knife to make an incision either diagonally or approximately perpendicularly to a tangent at the point of engagement of the gage and to secure said knife in adjusted position.

4. A sole fitting machine having, iny combination, a work table, a reciprocating` head to cooperate therewith, a knife carried by the head and having a blade to make a lineal incision in the margin of the sole, a. gage against which the edge of the sole is pressed, and means constructed and arranged to pen mit adjustment of said knife both angularly vand transversely relative to the gage and to secure said knife in adjusted position.

5. A' sole fitting'machine having, in combination-x a work table, a knife holder above knife blocks mounted directly on said holder and rigidly7 secured thereto, an adjustable presser-foot located in a slot in the holder between said blocks, and means for clamping said foot in adjusted position.

6. A sole fitting machine having, in com-k bination, a work table, a reciprocating head to cooperate therewith, an edge gage for the tip of the toe ofthe sole, and a knife carried by said head and operative while the tip of the toe is engaged by said edge gage to incise thev sole across the channel stock at one side of the median line of the sole.

7. A sole fitting machine having, in combination, a work table, a slotted, reciprocating knife for incising the sole, a knife holder and an angular knife bar (44, 46) angularly adjustable on said holder and within the angle of which said knife fits and is laterally adjustable.

8. In a sole fitting machine having a recipropating knife for incising the margin of the sole, a work table having a toe gage and forepart gages in advance thereof above its face, and means for removing said forepart gages from their operative position relative to the toe gage and retaining them in an inoperative position.

9. In a sole fitting machine having a reciprocating knife for incising the margin of the sole, a Work table having a toe gage and forepart gages in advance rthereof above its face, and means for removing said forepart gages from above the face of the table after a movement thereof in the plane of said face. Y

10. In a sole fitting machine having a reciprocating knife for incising the margin of the sole, a work table having a toc gage and forepart gages which are adjustably atw tached thereto, and means `for removing said forepart gages from their operative position relative to the toe gage without detachment from the table.

11. A sole fitting machine having, in combination, a tool foroperating on the sole and a work table having forepart gages eX- tending over the face of the table means for withdrawing said gages beyond the limits of said face, and means for depressing said gages to or below the level of said face.

12. A sole fitting machine having, in combination, a tool for operating on the sole and a work table having forepart gages extending over the face of the table, means for withdrawing said gages beyond the limits of said face, means for depressing said gages to or below the level of said face, and means under the control of the operative for replacing said gages above the table.

13. A sole fitting machine having, in combination, a tool for operating on the sole and a work table having forepart gages extending over the face of the table, devices tending continually to depress the gages, and means to move said gages beyond the edge of the table whereupon said devices operate to depress the gages to or below the level of said face.

14. A sole tting machine having, in combination, a tool for operating on the sole and a work table having forepart gage mechanism comprising gages overlying the table, means to withdraw said gages beyond the edge of the table, and automatically acting means operating to retain said gages in their position off the table.

15. A sole fitting machine having, in combination, a reciprocating knife for incising the sole and a work table having forepart gage mechanism comprising gages overlying the table, means to withdraw said gages beyond the edge of the table, automatically acting means operating to retain said gages in their position ofi' the table and means actuated by the operative for returning said gages to their operating position.

16. A sole fitting machine having, in combination, a tool for operating on the sole and a work table having forepart gage mechanism comprising gage arms pivoted beneath the table carrying gages overlying the table, means operating on said arms constantly tending to depress the gages, and means for turning the arms on their pivots to remove the gages from the table, whereupon said depressing means lowers the gages to or below the level of the table.

17. A sole fitting machine having, in combination, a reciprocating knife for incising the sole and a work table having a pair of pivot pins projecting from its lower face, gage arms mounted thereon for both angular and vertical movement, gages carried by said arms which overlie the upper face of the table, springs arranged to continually force said arms downward on their pivots, and means to' move said arms upward against the force of said springs.

MERToN E. JOHNSON. 

